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Other Discussion Boards => Technology & Information => Topic started by: Lord Dave on April 08, 2016, 09:25:22 AM

Title: Why internet reliant products are bad
Post by: Lord Dave on April 08, 2016, 09:25:22 AM
http://uk.businessinsider.com/googles-nest-closing-smart-home-company-revolv-bricking-devices-2016-4


The fact that any product that controls your home needs to access a server online is both absolutely stupid and an obvious play at control.  There is no reason that any home management hardware needs a server outside of your home.  None.
Title: Re: Why internet reliant products are bad
Post by: Pongo on April 08, 2016, 05:24:18 PM
There is no reason that any home management hardware needs a server outside of your home.  None.

What about price. It would be cheaper to have one server that controls many houses rather than individual servers.
Title: Re: Why internet reliant products are bad
Post by: Lord Dave on April 08, 2016, 05:38:24 PM
There is no reason that any home management hardware needs a server outside of your home.  None.

What about price. It would be cheaper to have one server that controls many houses rather than individual servers.
Not if you juat require the customer to install it on their home pc.
Title: Re: Why internet reliant products are bad
Post by: Pongo on April 08, 2016, 06:29:11 PM
There is no reason that any home management hardware needs a server outside of your home.  None.

What about price. It would be cheaper to have one server that controls many houses rather than individual servers.
Not if you juat require the customer to install it on their home pc.

So, then customer knowledge seems to be a huge reason to have an outsider server. Is every consumer expected to know how to set up and maintain a server to use the product? Seems like a very, very narrow market.
Title: Re: Why internet reliant products are bad
Post by: Lord Dave on April 08, 2016, 07:05:59 PM
There is no reason that any home management hardware needs a server outside of your home.  None.

What about price. It would be cheaper to have one server that controls many houses rather than individual servers.
Not if you juat require the customer to install it on their home pc.

So, then customer knowledge seems to be a huge reason to have an outsider server. Is every consumer expected to know how to set up and maintain a server to use the product? Seems like a very, very narrow market.
Then add a server hardware as part of the package.  Something akin to a router.  And really, a smart house is not somehing for the computer illiterate.
Title: Re: Why internet reliant products are bad
Post by: Fortuna on April 08, 2016, 09:38:07 PM
Um, you have the ultimate surveillance tool sitting in your pocket for 80% of the day. I don't think the fed gives a flying fuck how cool you keep your house.
Title: Re: Why internet reliant products are bad
Post by: Lord Dave on April 09, 2016, 05:23:49 AM
Um, you have the ultimate surveillance tool sitting in your pocket for 80% of the day. I don't think the fed gives a flying fuck how cool you keep your house.

You didn't read the article, did you?
This isn't a privacy thing this is a "your expensive smart house system is now bricked because we turned off the servers" thing.
Title: Re: Why internet reliant products are bad
Post by: Pongo on April 09, 2016, 06:25:47 AM
There is no reason that any home management hardware needs a server outside of your home.  None.

What about price. It would be cheaper to have one server that controls many houses rather than individual servers.
Not if you juat require the customer to install it on their home pc.

So, then customer knowledge seems to be a huge reason to have an outsider server. Is every consumer expected to know how to set up and maintain a server to use the product? Seems like a very, very narrow market.
Then add a server hardware as part of the package.  Something akin to a router.  And really, a smart house is not somehing for the computer illiterate.

Now we are adding hardware? I'm close to envoking the Dave Dance here.
Title: Re: Why internet reliant products are bad
Post by: Lord Dave on April 09, 2016, 06:41:51 AM
There is no reason that any home management hardware needs a server outside of your home.  None.

What about price. It would be cheaper to have one server that controls many houses rather than individual servers.
Not if you juat require the customer to install it on their home pc.

So, then customer knowledge seems to be a huge reason to have an outsider server. Is every consumer expected to know how to set up and maintain a server to use the product? Seems like a very, very narrow market.
Then add a server hardware as part of the package.  Something akin to a router.  And really, a smart house is not somehing for the computer illiterate.

Now we are adding hardware? I'm close to envoking the Dave Dance here.
Well when you think a software solution is too hard, what else am I gonna suggest?

Point is: everyone who spent hundreds of dollars on that smart home system now has a bunch of devices that are useless.  All because the company decided to focus on another product and shut down their servers.
Title: Re: Why internet reliant products are bad
Post by: markjo on April 11, 2016, 12:59:22 AM
http://uk.businessinsider.com/googles-nest-closing-smart-home-company-revolv-bricking-devices-2016-4


The fact that any product that controls your home needs to access a server online is both absolutely stupid and an obvious play at control.  There is no reason that any home management hardware needs a server outside of your home.  None.

Be that as it may, where the home management controller lies might be the least of your worries.
Quote from: http://arstechnica.com/security/2016/01/how-to-search-the-internet-of-things-for-photos-of-sleeping-babies/
“Internet of Things” security is hilariously broken and getting worse
Shodan search engine is only the latest reminder of why we need to fix IoT security.
Title: Re: Why internet reliant products are bad
Post by: Pete Svarrior on April 11, 2016, 05:27:42 AM
>Using Shodan to troll baby cams
>Latest
Fuck, why do websites get away with reporting news that's literally decades out of date? Why must there always be a markjo to find it relevant?
Title: Re: Why internet reliant products are bad
Post by: Pongo on April 12, 2016, 04:58:12 PM
Well when you think a software solution is too hard, what else am I gonna suggest?

Point is: everyone who spent hundreds of dollars on that smart home system now has a bunch of devices that are useless.  All because the company decided to focus on another product and shut down their servers.

Why can't you just admit that there are real reasons why one would want home management functionality hosted on an outside server but we'll both agree that it's likely not the best idea?
Title: Re: Why internet reliant products are bad
Post by: Thork on April 12, 2016, 05:16:19 PM
I have a thermostat. It allows me to set when I want the heating and water on or off. I don't need Google for that.
Title: Re: Why internet reliant products are bad
Post by: Lord Dave on April 12, 2016, 06:15:05 PM
Well when you think a software solution is too hard, what else am I gonna suggest?

Point is: everyone who spent hundreds of dollars on that smart home system now has a bunch of devices that are useless.  All because the company decided to focus on another product and shut down their servers.

Why can't you just admit that there are real reasons why one would want home management functionality hosted on an outside server but we'll both agree that it's likely not the best idea?
I can and shall. 
Title: Re: Why internet reliant products are bad
Post by: EnigmaZV on April 12, 2016, 08:31:21 PM
I have a thermostat. It allows me to set when I want the heating and water on or off. I don't need Google for that.

That's exactly Dave's point. It should be locally hosted.
Title: Re: Why internet reliant products are bad
Post by: Thork on April 13, 2016, 06:29:14 PM
I'm agreeing with him. I can take either side of an argument. I don't have to oppose the OP.